Cílem této diplomové práce je vytvoření reálného projektu s pomocí využití dvou softwarových produktů a jejich následné porovnání za použití metod vícekriteriálního hodnocení variant. Prvním softwarovým produktem je Microsoft Project. Tato aplikace je přímo určena pro plánování a řízení projektů a pro komunikaci s projektovým týmem. Druhým produktem je aplikace Microsoft Dynamics AX a v ní modul Projekt. Modul je určen pro řízení projektů, správu zdrojů, vytváření odhadů a prognóz, sledování rozpočtů a reálných výdajů na konkrétní projekt či časové plánování. Aplikace MS Dynamics AX je řešením pro plánování a řízení firemních zdrojů (ERP) a e-business, stejně tak i pro řízení vztahů se zákazníky, řízení výroby, řízení dodavatelského řetězce, fungování elektronického obchodu nebo finančního řízení.

<p>Predmet istraživanja predstavlja definisanje i analizu ključnih indikatora performanse prilikom donošenja strateških odluka u industrijskim preduzećima. Ispituje se uticaj ključnih indikatora performanse na organizovanje efektivne i efikasne proizvodnje uz minimalne troškove, kao i uticaj lojalnosti zaposlenih na performansu u uslužnim preduzećima. Pored naučnog doprinosa u oblasti menadžmenta, istraživanje ima i praktičnu primenu.</p> / <p>The research subject is defining and analyzing key performance indicators for making strategic decisions in industrial companies. Examines the impact of key performance indicators for organizing effective and efficient production with minimum costs, and the impact of employees&#39; loyalty to the performance of the service companies. In addition to scientific contributions in the field of management, the research also has practical application.</p>

Este trabalho tem como objetivo examinar os efeitos do desenvolvimento financeiro e das restrições financeiras nas decisões de investimento da firma considerando um conjunto de informações de 659 firmas brasileiras no período de 1998 a 2006. A investigação é realizada dentro de um contexto teórico e aplicado, considerando um modelo econométrico com dados longitudinais e assumindo que o desenvolvimento financeiro exerce impacto substancial nas restrições financeiras das firmas, o que está diretamente relacionado às suas decisões de investimento. Com o propósito de contribuir para a escassa literatura internacional e à inexistente literatura para o Brasil, este trabalho utilizou o índice KZ para classificação das firmas como financeiramente restritas e não restritas. Por meio do uso de dados macroeconômicos em uma análise microeconômica, empregou-se o modelo probabilístico logit para encontrar os principais fatores determinantes da probabilidade de restrição financeira das firmas brasileiras. Já para analisar a relação entre desenvolvimento financeiro, restrições financeiras e investimento da firma, estimou-se uma versão do modelo acelerador do investimento pelo método dos momentos generalizados (GMM) devido seu caráter dinâmico e à presença do problema de endogeneidade. Os principais resultados indicaram que, além dos fatores associados à estrutura financeira da firma, fatores como o nível de desenvolvimento financeiro e a taxa de juros de longo prazo têm influência sobre a probabilidade de restrição financeira da firma. Medindo-se a dependência das firmas por recursos internos por meio da sensibilidade do investimento ao fluxo de caixa, os resultados também indicaram que o desenvolvimento financeiro é mais importante para as firmas consideradas financeiramente restritas ao reduzir sua dependência por recursos internos, diminuindo seu grau de restrição financeira. Maiores níveis de desenvolvimento financeiro também se apresentaram associados a maiores taxas de investimento e a uma melhor alocação de capital no caso de firmas identificadas como financeiramente restritas. Esses resultados apresentaram-se robustos mesmo ao se controlar os resultados pela taxa de crescimento econômico, por diferentes variáveis de desenvolvimento financeiro e ao se classificar as firmas por intensidade de capital e taxa de investimento. / The aim of this work is to examine the effects of financial development and financial constraints on firm\'s investment decisions using data from 659 Brazilian firms over the 1998-2006 period. The research is conducted within a theoretical and applied context, considering an econometric model with longitudinal data and assuming that the financial development exerts a substantial impact on firms\' financial constraints, which is directly related to their investment decisions. With the aim of contributing to the scarce international literature and to the inexistent literature for Brazil, this study used the KZ index to classify firms as financially constrained and unconstrained. Through the use of macro data in a microeconomic analysis, the logit probability model was employed to find the main determinants of the financial constraint probability of Brazilian firms. To examine the relationship between financial development, financial constraints and firm\'s investment decisions, it was estimated a version of the accelerator model of investment by the generalized method of moments (GMM) due to its dynamic character and the presence of the endogeneity problem. The main results indicate that, beyond factors associated with the firm\'s financial structure, factors such as the financial development level and the long-term interest rate have influence on the likelihood of firm\'s financial constraint. Measuring the dependence of firms on internal resources by the sensitivity of investment to cash flow, the results also showed that financial development is more important for firms which are considered financially constrained by the fact that a higher level of financial development reduces the dependence on internal resources of these firms, decreasing their level of financial constraint. Higher levels of financial development were also associated with higher rates of investment and with a better allocation of capital when considering firms identified as financially constrained. These results were robust even when controlled by the economic growth rate, by different financial development variables and when firms were classified by capital intensity and investment rate.

The purpose of this study was to examine the issues that principals face in making the decision or recommendation to bring about the involuntary separation of non-tenured teachers. I was concerned with identifying the emotions, feelings, conflicts, and misgivings that principals experience during this process. Related concerns were identified. They included the issues of principals using professionally ethical ways to encourage or coach teachers to resign prior to dismissal, dealing with "lame duck" teachers between notification and the end of the school year, and writing positive letters of recommendation for teachers they have decided not to renew. These questions were addressed through questionnaires and in-depth interviews with 18 principals from the state of Tennessee who had made recommendations to involuntarily separate non-tenured teachers from their school systems. Several themes emerged from the data and the following conclusions were reached: (1) teachers were not recommended for renewal primarily as a result of concerns about discipline, inappropriate behavior, and professionalism; (2) principals were generally able to frame their decisions in context with their vision for the school; (3) directors of school systems were generally supportive of principals making personnel decisions; (4) personnel decisions frequently involved political considerations; (5) these decisions caused stress, anxiety, and emotional concerns for the principals; (6) the state model for teacher evaluation was generally considered as being inconsequential while making personnel decisions; (7) few problems were encountered from "lame duck" teachers; (8) principals frequently encouraged teachers to resign prior to taking formal action to not renew them; (9) positive or benign letters of recommendation were frequently written for teachers who were not rehired; (10) a shortage of teachers has resulted in the hiring of non-renewed teachers by other school systems.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Com. (Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / Many developing countries are trying to make their business environment more attractive to foreign investors. They try this by relaxing rules regarding market entry and foreign ownership; improving infrastructure and making other efforts to enhance their chances of becoming a destination country for foreign direct investment (FDI). Among the characteristics of globalisation is the unrestricted capital flow and access to world market. Global FDI stocks have been on the increase and many more African countries are becoming more open to FDI, even though it still remains low. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to provide an analysis of the driving factors towards foreign direct investment in South Africa. The ARDL approach is used to investigate drivers of international investment decisions in South Africa using quarterly data from 2007Q1 to 2017Q1. The bounds cointegration method was chosen to analyse the long and the short run relationship amongst the variables of interest. In addition, the Granger Causality test was used to determine causal relationships between FDI and other variables. The study found that household income level had an effect in the stock of FDI. It also found that labour productivity increased the total output of goods and services and therefore impacted on the stock of FDI in the country. Public infrastructure investment and interest rates are also among the important factors that determine FDI inflow. Furthermore, the dummy variable has a significant negative effect and it shows that labour strikes and unrests affect FDI negatively. Although South Africa has implemented strategies to attract more FDI, recent political instability and labour disputes has left investor weary of the future of the economy therefore a refinement of some of these policies is needed if the country is to be successful in this regard. The county should also focus on developing and maintaining quality infrastructures in terms of, roads, telephones, internet access, water and electricity supply.

The aim of the Reading First grant program was to (a) increase quality and consistency of instruction in K-3 classrooms; (b) conduct timely and valid assessments of student reading growth in order to identify students experiencing reading difficulties; and (c) provide high quality, intensive interventions to help struggling readers catch up with their peers (Torgesen, 2002). In the State of Florida, school districts must incorporate the use of an assessment tool called the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) to qualify for Reading First grant funding. Though DIBELS has been found to be a valid and reliable assessment for screening, monitoring, and evaluating student outcomes in early literacy skills, very little discussion or research has been conducted concerning teacher use and attitudes about DIBELS within a Reading First program. The present study involved a qualitative analysis of teachers' perceptions and use of the DIBELS within a Reading First context. Fourteen teachers (seven kindergarten and seven first grade teachers), Reading Coaches, non-teaching Specialists, and DIBELS experts participated in the present study. Results were aggregated for comparisons across multiple data sources. Results suggest teacher's perceptions may not be easily classified on a simple dichotomous range; rather their reported benefits and concerns on the use of the DIBELS were found to be varied and highly situational. Results were further interpreted in the context of research literature on data utilization and analysis in schools.

Student involvement on college campuses is important for the professional growth, leadership development and learning of today's college student. This research sought to determine the factors that influence former high school FFA members' reasons for joining and participating in the Collegiate FFA. The study showed that students who are involved in the National FFA at the secondary level are more likely to join Collegiate FFA while attending a university that offers the Collegiate FFA option. These students were actively engaged on campus and were interested in helping others. Collegiate FFA programs, the National FFA, and universities across the country should begin their recruitment efforts with current high school FFA members.

Previous works suggest that 80% to 90% of failures observed in the rotary machines are accounted to fatigue failure. And it is observed that cyclic stresses are more critical than steady stresses when the failure occurred is due to fatigue. One of the most expensive industries involving rotary machines is the Oil and Gas industry. The large drilling tools are used for oil extracts on-shore and off-shore. There are several forces that act on a drilling tool while operating below the earth surface. Those forces are namely pressure, bending moment and torque. The tool is designed from the baseline model of the former tool in Solidworks and Design Molder. Here load acting due to pressure and torque accounts for steady stress i.e., Mean Stress and loading acting due to bending moment account for fluctuating stress i.e., Alternating Stress. The loading and boundary conditions have been adapted from Halliburton’s previous works for LWD drill tool to better estimate the size of the largest possible transducer. The fatigue analysis of static load cases is carried out in Ansys Mechanical Workbench 19.0 using static structural analysis. The simulation is run to obtain results for total deformation, equivalent stress, and user-defined results. The component is designed for infinite life to calculate the endurance limit. Shigley guideline and FKM guideline are compared as a part of a study to select the best possible approach in the current application. The width of the imaging pocket is varied from 1.25 inches to 2.0 inches to accommodate the largest possible transducer with compromising the structural integrity of the tool. The optimum design is chosen based on the stress life theory criteria namely Gerber theory and Goodman Theory.<br>

The top leader of an organization influences the organizational culture, and the organizational culture influences the leader. Strategic thinking on the part of the leader is a result of organizational culture and/or will impact organizational culture. This qualitative study is a comparative multiple-case study that examines the relationship between leaders and organizational culture and what the leader’s strategic decision-making and organizational changes indicate about the relationship between leadership and organizational culture. The organizational context of private schools is used to better understand the dynamics between leadership and organizational culture. This study uses an interview protocol with CEOs of private schools, a macroculture in the United States, to solicit the leaders’ perspectives on their school’s organizational culture and their perspectives on the specific strategic decisions made by those leaders in the context of that organizational culture. This study focuses on six different schools in Virginia, all approved through accrediting procedures by the Virginia Council for Private Education -- a shared organizational context. Individual focal points for data collection and analysis include individual school websites, published school documents, and required accreditation documents as well as structured interviews with the CEOs of each school. This study examines the cycle of influence that the leader has on the organization through strategic thinking and the influence that the organizational culture has on the leader. Three findings expressed how the leader influences the organizational culture. There were also three findings on how the organizational culture influences the leaders. Two additional findings are on what change indicates about the relationship between the leader and the organizational culture. These findings reveal that a focus on relationships in the school, a willingness to target specific growth for the individual school, and goals that were expressed spiritually as well as academically are key to the leaders. The study also found that the school cultures identified strongly and positively with that of being a family, spiritual focus operationally distinguishes the school cultures, and spiritual identity is also expressed as the relationship the school has to church. Two findings were identified relating to strategic decisions and change; these findings were that evidence of change should be visible and explicit within the organization and organizational change relates directly to focus for growth from the leader. These findings from this study support the conclusions that 1) Christian school leaders have a direct influence on the values and direction of the school’s organizational culture; 2) the Christian school’s organizational identity has a direct influence on the focus of the leader, and 3) changes targeted in Christian schools reflect the focus of the leader on growth. Findings from this research suggest that organizational culture is highly contextualized and as a result strategic thinking and decision-making on the part of the leader are also highly contextualized. Contextualization increases as the leader seeks to grow the organization or to change the organization. Understanding contextualization that exists, and how organizational culture changes as strategic decisions are made by the leader, has implications for further research in effective leadership, effective change, strategic thinking, and growing effective organizational cultures including private and public institutions of higher education and public and private corporate institution.